Babin's career game sparks Nicholls women

From staff reports

Published: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11:38 p.m.

CONWAY, Ark. — Nicholls State University junior guard KK Babin scored a career-high 32 points, including 14 of the Colonels' last 15 points, in a 68-62 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday at the Farris Center.

With the win, Nicholls improves to 13-8 and 5-5 in the Southland Conference. The win was the first for the Colonels at Central Arkansas (13-8, 6-4 in conference) in seven tries. The Sugar Bears have now lost two straight at home after winning 22 in a row.

Babin lit up the scoreboard for 18 points in the first half, making 4-of-4 from behind the 3-point line as Nicholls led 41-29 at the break. The Colonels went on runs of 8-0 and 11-0 in the first half to lead by as much as 17.

In the second half, the Sugar Bears gradually chipped away at the deficit, cutting the lead to single digits after Megan Herbert knocked down a pair of free throws at the 12:25 mark, making the score 53-45. But the Colonels were stuck on 53 for over seven minutes as Central Arkansas clawed back to make it a one-point game.

Babin broke the drought with a jumper at the seven-minute mark and put Nicholls up 60-56 after another 3-pointer with less than five minutes remaining.

Central Arkansas scored the game's next four points to tie the game at 60 before Babin sank her sixth 3-pointer to give Nicholls the lead for good. On the Colonels' next possession, she sank a jumper to make it a five-point game before Nicholls went on to win, 68-62.

Babin finished 11-of-18 from the field and 6-of-7 behind the 3-point line, while adding six assists and three steals. The six 3-pointers tied her career-high, set last season against Belhaven.

Emani White sparked Nicholls off the bench, scoring 10 points with two 3-pointers and three assists. LiAnn McCarthy rounded out the leading scorers with 10 points, with Jasmine Scott adding eight points and seven rebounds.

Saturday's win was the Colonels' first over the Sugar Bears since last season's SLC tournament.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 79, NICHOLLS 76 (MEN)

At Conway, Ark., Fred Hunter scored a career-high 36 points and collected 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Central Arkansas held on for the three-point win on Saturday.

Nicholls (6-14, 5-5 in the SLC) led 47-43 at halftime, but Central Arkansas (9-11, 4-6 in the SLC) outscored the Colonels 36-29 in the second half for the win.

The Bears led by as many as 10 points late in the second half before Eric Hunter scored six straight points to get Nicholls within 75-71 with 1:45 remaining. Nicholls' Amin Torres sank a 3-pointer to make it it 78-76 with 12 seconds left, and after a free throw by Robert Crawford, Torres (10 points) had a chance to tie from behind the arc with two seconds left but missed.

Crawford led Central Arkansas with 19 points, and Jordan Harks chipped in 13. Central Arkansas' leading scorer Jarvis Garner did not play for Central Arkansas while serving the second game of a two-game suspension for breaking team rules.

Dantrell Turner added 11 rebounds for the Colonels.

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